Vehicle-spring.



M. M. MCINTYRE:

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION man FEB.2I,1913.

1 9,19 Patented June 5, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

M. M. MciNTYREY VEHICLE SPRING. APPLICATION VFILED FEB. 21'. 1913.

LQQQ RQQQ Patented June 5, 1911' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'LQQJQQO M. M. MciNTYRE.

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.2|,1913- Patented June 5, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

V EH1 eee ioe."

Application filed February 2-1, 1915. Serial To all whomit may common Be it known that. 1;, llllcinier, ill. iii loinrrmne citizen of the United States, residing; at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyohog-e and. State of Ohio, have invented a cerlein new and usefullmprovement in Vehicle-Springs, of which the following is 22. full, clear, and exact description, reference being lied to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to spiingsospension devices for vehicles end has for its general object to provide a construction and arrangement of spring whereby the shocks incident to striking obstructions are in a. reat measure absorbed. by the springs i3l1811'136i've25 Without transmission to the vehicle ozul Wiihoui; subjecting the springs. anol the vehicle to e violent rebounding ection which may, for some purposes, be compared with on explm sion. A further object. of the invention is to provide a spring susoension whereby of riding will he reolizied alike under and heavy loads. A si'jill further oojecs of the invention is to secure the above resul in and through a spring structure which comparatively cheep of prozliiceion. 1 reel ize the foregoing objects by the construetious shown in i'he drawings forming a glilli hereof, wherein, Figure l represenis a View in side elevation, cermin ports being'shown in section, of e spring assembly construceed and applied in occoi-(lsneo viih my invention; Fig. 2 represenis sectional deoil through "the box clip \vhi connects the izwo sections of 'zhe spring eeseinbl Q a. sectionei view correspomli. oily the line 3-3 of Fig. 9 -L views, similar to 1, of Hllil s t the construction shown in 1 a sectional detail corresponding line 8-45 of Fig. 5; and Figs. 7' 8.,-9, 6, ii, is, and 13 are views, similar Fig. l, @ijiluf modified forms of my invention.

'Describing the various parts by reference characters, and more especially connection with the form illustrated in Fig. l, 1 denotes the rear axle of an automobile, sml 2 the housing therefor. 3 denotes one oi' the side members of a suspension frame which may be mounted on the housing 2 by means of clips 4. 5 denotes a pin or bolt connecting the lower encls of the side members 3 one Specification of Letters Ee.

' extending through. she

- H10, ASSIGETUR, BY lilflESl lE ilSSliG-NMENTS, CLEVELAND,- OEEG, A G'DRPOBATZGN 01 eye of the main place 01' the lower spring session enol thereoy supporting the lower end of the spring as sernbly The spring assembly comprises a lower spring session olie opposite ends" whereof are preferably reversely curved or ceniliereci and on upper spring section. Y denotes the main plate of the lower spring, the eye 8 whereof is supporied by the pin or hole 5, while the opposite encl of the pleie is provided with eye 8 which is supporiefl by the bolt of o shackle 9 pivoised to the vehicle frame 10. ll; Williie nobed theifile lower spring is substoneielly straight from the central porizion thereof to the end which is eonnecled to while shackle 9, the extreme eni having bus 9. slight upward sweep or comher when solijeccecl to the Weight of ehe normally lozulecl vehicle. l1 ilenoies the 21min plate and li 'ilie auxiliary ploees or? e. seeonrl pi-o; ion which is connecieill tie is v "ail oo. on of the lower speing see I by means of 'ooit clip 12, the spring section 11, El.- nncl izhe rigli hand end 0%? size louver s r w lmclr, with o whereby they may gradually cushion upon each other and increase their joint ceiaociey as loerl increases. The rear end of ii/Zoe section being plecedbeck to shaped opening therohesween csri-iell lay 'v-zzirclly from. its pivotal support. The on the frame ill and projecting on y of the giloles ll, ll? project beyond the clip 12 a oisnnce which gradually decreases from lio'btowi elliei.

*eby a. cushioned pressure 7 ends upon ehe' lower sec. lil recedes from the mile no; pa s is iici'mol camber; i. e. the cenqber which it possesses when unsobjected' sosny loe ci. I

As will appear more particularly from 2 anti 3, the

upper end lower syringsections are so connected that these see'mons erspring sectionroe/ones and ll i can rock open each other and the cushioning action on rebound be greatly facilitated thereby, The clip 12 comprises a top plate having: a central housing 12 :HICl forwardly and i'ezirwauily extending lateral flanges 12" and 12. reepeclively, athese flanges-being connectecl to cross pleles 12* by meonsof bolts through bolt 11 plate 11 is provided with an eye 11, which.

is received Within the housing 12 and is connected to said housing by means of a bolt 12 mounted insaid housing. The plates of the spring 11, 11 are connected by means of a and the plates of the lower spring section are connected by a similar .bolt 7".

By the construction shown and described, it is evident that the spring sections are capable of a rocking motion, the one on the other. On the .upward movement of the spring section 11, 11, as on rebound, this spring section is pivoted on the eye 11, and a long rocking bearing is provided between the sections, the cushioning effect referred to hereinbefore being secured by the projecting ends of the plates 1.1, 11 and the rocking motion being facilitated by the construction of the clip 12, including the inclined surface 12- of the flange 12.

Owing to the shackle connection between the ends of the spring and the vehicle frame,

radius or driving rods will preferably be provided with the construction shown.

- WVhere such rods are provided the suspending frame comprising the plates I} may be free'to rotate or swing with respect to the axle 1. For cfliciency in driving, .I prefer to have the rear end. of the upper spring section at the rear of the axle.

In operation, suppose an obstacle is encountered. The upward movement of the axle will cause the spring 11, 1i and the right hand end of the spring 7, 7 to cushion and elongate against each other. ()wing to the manner of constriwting the springs and of connecting them to the vehicle frame, the shock incident to encountering this obstacle will be cushioned and absorbed in the spring,

with practically no transmission to the vehicle frame and with practically no liability to a disruptive or '=explosive rebound action, the recovery of the spring parts to normal position after *such deflection being slowand gradual. p

In Fig. 4 there is shown a construction wherein subrtantially the same form of spring is illustrated as in Fig. l the manner of suspcndingthe spring (littering therefrom in some respects. In this view, 1 denotcs'the axle, 2 the housing, and 3 the side members of the hanger frame. The lower spring section, 7, 7 is substantially identical with the like-designated spring in Fig. 1.

At its front end, the spring 7, 7 is connected to the bottom of a downwardly swinging shackle 9 and the upper end of the spring section 11, 11 is also connected to the lower end of an upwardly projecting shackle ll, said shackles being carried by the frame 10.

The spring sections 7, 7" and 11, 11 are connected by means of clips 15, the lower ends of which project through a spring seat 16, said seat being carried by a bracket 17 secured to the frame 10. In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the radius or driving rods will be unnecessary, provided that the frame members 3 are substantially rigid with the housing or axle.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a further modification of my spring suspension, wherein the lower spring section 7, T is substantially identical with the like-desig nated spring sections in the preceding modifications, the connection between the right hand or downwardly directed end of the spring and the axle being the same as shown in Figs. 1 and The left or upper end of this spring section is connected to the lower arm 18 of a bell crank shackle pivoted to the frame 10 at '19, the parts being prefer"- ably arranged so that the arm 15%, when the vehicle is under normal load, projects vertically downward. he upper spring section consists of a substantially straight tension spring 20, "20, similar to the upper spring sections shown in my application No. 74],(34-0, tiled January 12-3, 1913. This upper spring section has one end connected to a shackle E21 and its other end connected to the arm 18 of the. bell crank shackle. 'lhe shackles l8 and 21 project toward each other aln'iost in a straight line, permitting but a limited movement of the central portion of the spring 20, 20. The spring sections 7, 7 and Qt), 20 are each provided with a spring .ilt, and these seats are pivot-ally connected. The spring seat 32 is secured to the spring section 7, by means of the clips 23. This seat is provided with a central hinge lug 24 which projects between two hinge lugs 25, carried 'by the spring seat 26 which is secured to the spring section 20, 20 by clips 27. A piutle 28 extends through the lugs 24 and 25 and pivotally connects the same and the spring sections.

The action of the spring construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is in some re spects the same as, but in others markedly different from, that which occurs in connection with the modifications shown in Figs. 1 and 2. shock, such as caused by the wheel encountering an obstacle, will elevate the rear end of the spring 7, 7 and, because of the pivotal support of the centor of the spring. will produce a downward and rearward pull upon the shackle arm 18 and an upvard and for and thrust upon the shackle. arm 18, thereby so shifting the connections between the upper spring sec messes tion afio tne frame that there is a slight fall of the rear end of the frame until the tension on the shackle arms 18, 18 is again balanced. During this falling interval, the thrusting action of the spring upon the frame is entirely suspended, and the vehicle is, therefore, relieved of the initial shock which would otherwise be transmitted thereto, and a part of the blow is absorbed and lost in the spring construction itself without being transmitted to the vehicle frame. Furthermore, any upward thrust of the lnwer spring section against" the upper ,spring section will produce a limited bowing .or arcing of the center-of the upper spring section. The upward movement of the upper spring section is necessarily limited, owing to the fact that it forms a flexible tension device extending in a substantially straight line between the shackled arm 18-- and the shackle 21. During this arcing of the upper spring by the upward deflection ofits center, there will be a dissipation of the vibration throughout the entire spring assembly without subjecting the vehicle to a violent rebounding action, as would be the case were the center of the lower spring tion connected directly to the frame.

The construction shown in Figs. 5 and (3 may be used without radius rods, the spring assembly constituting a flexible drive be-v tween the axle and frame. In Fig. 7 there is shown a spring construction which is similar in general characteristics-to that shown in Fig. 1 and whichis capable of realizing substantially the same results as the construction shown in Fig, 1. The lower spring section 7, 7 has its rear end connected to the axle 1 in the same manner as shown in Figs. 1, 4: and 5. As is the case with the prior forms of my invention, the front end of the spring is substantially straight, butis preferably cambered slightly in a reverse direction from the rear end and is connected to a, downwardly swinging shackle 36. The lower spring section is connected at its center to an upper spring section 37, 37 by means of clips 38. The rear end of this upper spring section is supported from the frame 10by means of an upwardly swinging shackle 39, while its front end is pivotally connected to the upper end of a long shackle 40, the lower end whereof is supported from the rear -end of a short spring hanger 41 which is carried by the frame lO and is preferably secured to the lower surface thereof. For purposes of compactness, the shackle 36 may swing within the side'plates of the shackle 40 and be pivoted to the same shackle bolt 42 to which the front eye of the spring section 37,-

shown in Fig. 1. The front end of the up-- per spring is permitted to move upwardly under the influence of a shock, this upward movement being permitted by the spring hanger i1. Instead of securing the temporary break or suspension of connection between the spring and frame which is secured by the construction of Fig. 5, there is a yielding or softening of the blow, which is analogous to the breaking action referred to.

in Fig. 8 the construction is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 7. In the latter view, however, the main plate 7 is provided with an upwardly extending scroll end 7 which is connected to an upwardly extending shackle l3, which may be conveniently which connec 37, 3? to the r 45, the lower on sprin hanger ll. scroll linger ll. in this iront end of the spring nected to an upwardly nected case, seci on 7, c extending shackle to the 1G. The action of this spring is very similar to that shown in Fig.8.

In 10 there is shown a spring assembly and construction which is identical with that of 7 except as to the connections between the front ends of the spring sections and the frame 10/ The front ends of these sections are connected to the opposite rearwardly projectine' ends 48, 48* of a U shaped lever 4:9, which is pivoted at its central por'ion to the frame, as indicated at 50. With this construction, when a shock encountered which tends to move the bottom of the lever rearwardly, the top will be moved, upwardly, with the result that the front end of the upper spring section will be moved upwardly and the rear end of the frame will drop a short distance, with a breaking or cushioning efi'ect analogous to that produced by the construction and assembly shown in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 11, 1 denotes the rear axle, 2 the housing and 3. the upwardly projecting side plates of the springhanger axle connection. 51 denotes the main plate and 51* which may be pivoted is downwardly cambered While its left hand substantially straight and is connected to the upper end of a curved or U shaped shackle 52. 58, 53 denotes alower spring section having its main plate at the bottom.

and having its rear end connected to the frame 10 by means of a suitable pin or bolt 51, while its front end is connected to a shackle 55 which may be conveniently sus pended from the bolt or pin 56 to which the front end of the upper spring section 51, 51 is secured.

lVith the construction shown in the last described figure. the suspension is from the shackle pivot 57, the pivot 5st and the axle 1. The front ends of the upper and lower spring section are free, affording a flexible drive from the axle to the frame. In op eration, when an obstacle is encountered, the spring assembly will pivot about the point 54, whereby the advantages secured through the construction in Fig. 7 will be obtained. When the spring section 51, 51 moves toward the front (as it will under shock) the whole spring construction is pivoted at its front and yields as a whole with respect to the frame, giving the effect of a yielding or graduated breaking connection between the spring and the frame, whereby the. initial shock will be practically suspended and untransmitted to the frame.

in Fig. 19, there is shown a form of my invention which is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 5, but differing therefrom in 'the following particulars :-'ihe front end of the lower spring section 58, 58 iscurved or cambered in the same direction as the rear end, whereas the front end of this spring section is shownlin Fig. 5 as curved or cambered in the reverse direction from the rear end. The upper spring sec-- 'tion 20, 20* is identical with the upper spring section in the preceding figure and has its rear end connected to a shackle 21, as in Fig. 5. Furthermore, the two spring sections are connected pivotally attheir centers in the same manner as shown in Fig. 5. The front end of thc'lower spring section is connected to the lower arm of an angle lever pivoted at 59. The lower arm of this angle lover extends dowi'i'wardly and somewhat rearwardly, as shown at 60. The other arm (ll of this lever extends almost directly forward from the pivot 59, and the front end of the sprin 20, 30 is connected to the front .end of the lever arm 61 by means of an upwardly extending shackle 62. lVhile the rocking of the bell crank lover or shackle which causes a temporary break of connection between the spring and the frame is accomplished by the contraction of the front end, of the spring 7, 7 in Fig. 5, the rocking of angle lever in Fig. 12

naaeaoe to secure the same result is caused by the expansion or elongation of the front and of thelower springsectlon 58, 58. When an obstacle is encountered and the rear end section 20, 20" upwardly, thereby dropping the rear end of the spring 20, 20* arul lowing a falling movement of the vehicle frame, or a temporary break of connection between the spring and the frame, with the advantageous results referred to in connec tion with the construction shown in Fig.5.

in Fig. 13, there is shown a further modification of my invention which is capable of realizing the advantages secured in and by the construction shown in Fig. '5. In this view, the upper and lower spring. sec tions 7, 7 and 20, 20 are substantially identical as to constructionand mode of connection with those shown in: Fig. 5. The front end of the lower spring section is rcversely curved or cambered from the rear end and is connected to the forwardly and downwardly extending end of a lever which is pivoted intermediate of its ends in such manner that the front and lower' ment and a contraction of the front end of the spring section, causing'a rearward and downward movement of the lever arm 63 and an upward movementot the lever iii Sti-

arm (ll, producing a corresponding upward movement of the front end of the spring rear end, whereby the connection between the spring assembly and the vehicle frame is temporarily suspended or broken.

center of the first mentioned spring, and

shackles connecting the ends of the second spring to the frame.

2. The combination, with a vehicle frame j and axle, of a spring hav ng an end connected with the axle, means connecting the opposite end of the spring to the frame, a substantially straight spring having it:

20, 20" and a downward movement of the I center connected to the center of the first mentioned spring, and means connecting the ends of the second spring to the frame. 8. The combination, with a vehicle frame and axle, of a spring having a downtnrned end connected to the axle, a shackle connccting the opposite end oi the spring" to the frame, a tension spring connected to the frame and having a limited vibratory movement at the central portion thereof, and ineans pivotally connecting the central portions of. the two springs.

4. The combination, with a vehicletrame and axle, of a spring having an end con-- heated to the axle, means connecting the opposite end of the spring to the frame, tension spring connected to the frame and having a limit/ed vibratory movement at the central portion thereof 1d means conmeeting the central por. ns of the two springs.

The combination, with}: vehicle frame and axle, of a s nking having one end con.-

nected with the axle and having its other end connected to the frame, a. second spring having its opposite ends connected to the frame, and a rocking; connection between the central portions of said springs 33. The combination, with vehicle frame and axle, of a springhaving onccnd connected with the axle and having its other end pivotally connected to the frame, a second spring having its opposite ends otally connected to the frame, and a otal connection between the central por, of said springs.

'2'. The combination, with a vehicle frame and axle, of a spring having one end connccted to the axle and its other end connected to the frame, a tension spring having its opposite ends connected to the frame, and a pivotal. connection between the central portions of said springs.

8. The combination. with a vehicle frame and axle, of a spring having one end connected to the axle and its other end pivotally connected to the frame, a tension spring having its opposite ends pivotally connected to thefranie, and a pivotal connection between the central portions of said springs.

9. The combination, with a vehicle frame and axle, of an angle lever pivoted to the frame, a spring havin one end connected to the axle and its other end connected to one arm of said lever, an upper spring having one end connected to the other arm of the lever and its other end connected to the frame, and means connecting the central portions of said springs.

10. The combination, with a vehicle frame I and axle, of a bell crank shackle pivoted to the frame, a spring having one end con 'nected to the axle and its other end connected to the lower arm of said shackle, an

airing one end connected to other are of the shackle and its other pivotallj pivot-ally connecting the central portio is of said springs.

The combination, with a vehicle frame nil axle, of an angle lever pivoted interme- Late of its ends to the trains, a spring havone end connected to the axle and its er eml to the lower arm of said lover, a aid spring having one end connected to the other arm of the lever and its opposite end to a shackle on the frame, and means connecting the central portions of said springs.

Thecombination, with a vehicle frame and axle, oi. an angle lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the frame, a spring having one'end connected to the axle and its other end to an arm of said lever, a second spring having one end connected to the other of the lever and its opposite end conshackle carried by the frame, the

hicle frame and axle, of a driving, member liming its opposite ends connected to the frame and axle, and a spring interposed between said member and the frame.

14. The combination, with a niotor vehicle fran'ze and axle, of a driving member connecting the frame and axle, and a spring connected to the frame and having a rock inc connection with the driving member.

35. The combination, with a vehicle frame and axle, of a spring having one end conncctcd to the axle and its other end flexibly connected to the frame, of a second spring having a rocking connection With the first ring and having an end flexibly connected tothe frame.

16. The combination, with a vehicle frame and axle, of two spring sections pivotally connected at their central or body portions and aving their rear ends connected respectivel y to the frame and axle, and a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends and having its opposite arms connected to the front ends of said spring sections.

17. The combination, with a vehicle frame and axle, of two spring sections pivotally connected at their central or body portions and having their rear ends connected respectively to the frame and axle, and a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends and having its opposite arms connected to the front ends of said spring sections, the lever being so constructed and pivoted that a rearward movement of its lower arm Will produce an upward movement of its upperarm to cleconnected to the frame, and

rate the front end of the upper spring section.

1.8. The combination, with a vehicle frame and axle, of an upper and a lower spring section, means connecting one end of the .lower section to the axle and its opposite end to the frame, means connecting the upper section to the framefand a rocking connectlon between the upper sectlon and the central portion of the lower section, said 10 sections being arranged back to back.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' MICHAEL M. MCINTYRE.

Witnesses P. A. CoNNoLLY,

CHRISTIAN GIRL. 

